Iran FM Zarif stresses support for Lebanese resistance

The visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday discussed with President Bashar al-Assad ways to solve the Syrian crisis, the state news agency SANA reported.

The conflict in Syria has spilled over its borders into Lebanon on multiple occasions since 2011 and has exacerbated existing political tensions within the small country. The Observatory estimates Assad’s control at around 25 percent of Syria, including its most populous areas such as the capital, Damascus. In the coming days, he will also visit India and Russian Federation. The Local Coordination Committees said the air raids on Hamouriyeh, Saqba, Kfar Batna, Douma and Arbeen killed 15 and wounded dozens.

The Observatory said the shelling killed one woman and wounded at least 20 people. Assad’s enormous territorial losses in the past months may be pushing him to explore diplomatic options to resolve the crisis.

Senior government officials busy finalising the proposal seemed little concerned about the prospects of the deal on the ground that transmission line from Iran to Pakistan would not be hit by the economic sanctions against Iran.

Zarif arrived in Beirut Tuesday for a two-day visit. “We hope that the people of this region and the Lebanese people will benefit from this cooperation”.

On his previous trip to Lebanon, last year, Zarif also met Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah, the most powerful military force in the country which is backed by Tehran.

The ceasefire also includes the Shi’ite towns of Kefraya and Foua in Idlib province which are under attack by an alliance of Islamist insurgents known as the “Army of Fatah”, which includes Ahrar al Sham. Sources on both sides say negotiations are underway about a possible evacuation of civilians from the two villages, and a withdrawal of rebel fighters from Zabadani.